Dehaunting: 09/19/20

Dehaunting by J.A. White is the sequel to Archimancy (2019). Cordelia, Benji and Agnes have permission to continue their work of helping ghosts over the summer break, until the nephew of the school's architect (and resident poltergeist) starts exploring the school, hoping to learn all he can about the ghosts. The principal rescinds her offer and the kids aren't allowed back until the first day of school.

When they arrive for the first day of school, things are different. Ghosts have started refusing their brightkeys. The teachers are acting strange. There seems to be a plague of headaches among the staff.

The other big news is there might be a way to automate the brightkey process, effectively dehaunting the school. With the chance of being able to do stuff other than helping ghosts is one of a few divisive items in the kids' lives and friendship.

Like the first book, this volume is tightly crafted. Details in the first chapter have lasting effects through to the end. Be observant and see if you can solve things before they do!

Like Archimancy, Dehaunting is on the Road Narrative Spectrum. The children having earned the trust of their principal and with their skills at seeing and helping ghosts, have changed from marginalized travelers to privileged ones (00). Their status change also signals that this book is more ensconced in the horror genre than the previous volume.

As this is still a ghost story, the destination remains uhoria (CC). Here they need to learn more about Elijah Shadow's life as well as lives of the phantoms he took care of before building the Shadow house.

This time, though, the route taken is the labyrinth (99). While there remains danger in the school, it's primarily the teachers who are at risk. The trio, and their extended group of friends, know most of the secrets of the school and its architecture. Knowledge keeps the blind alleys and other en route dangers at a minimum.

All together, Dehaunting can be summarized as privileged travelers going through uhoria via the labyrinth.

Five stars

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